Desk memorandum pad



July 14, 1942. E TRQLLEN 2,290,006

DESK MEMORANDUM PAD Filed Oct. 26, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 23 v I 3. 1'4 MA IN E. TRULLEN July 14, 1942, M. E. TROLLEN DESK MEMORANDUM PAD 2 Sheets -Sheet -2 Fil egi Oct. 26, 1940 dispensing device operates.

Patented July 14, 1942 DESK MEMORANDUM PAD Martin E. Trollen, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Brown & Bigelow, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application October 26, 19l0, Serial No. 362,997

8 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in memorandum desk pads wherein it is desired to provide a desk pad concealing a quantity of paper which may be dispensed as is desired.

In various types of desk pads which have been previously constructed, it is usual practice to have the pad exposed so that the paper thereon is readily available. While such a structure has certain definite advantages, it is true that such a pad becomes dusty and the paper thereon becomes easily soiled. It is therefore advantageous to provide a means of enclosing the paper until it is used if a suitable means can be provided which renders the paper readily available.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a container in which sheets of paper are entirely enclosed and so constructed that the paper will be dispensed therefrom a sheet at a time when it is desired for use. This container is provided with a means for dispensing the paper which is easily operable and which can be actuated in a minimum of time.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container suitable for containing a series of sheets of paper upon the top sheet of which a This dispensing device comprises a roll which is rotatable in one direction and which is locked against rotation in the opposite direction. As this wheel is rotated in one direction along the top of the paper the roller or wheel will rotate and will not move the paper positioned therebeneath. When the roller is drawn in the opposite direction along the top sheet of paper, the wheel is locked from rotation and will draw the top sheet of paper with the wheel or roller toward a suitable outlet from the container.

It is a feature of my invention to provide a paper dispensing device embodying a roller rotatable in one direction only and mounted upon a lever means which is reciprocable over the series of sheets regardless of the number of sheets which are present in the container within a suitable maximum limit. This roller and the reciprocating means therefor is actuated by an easily operable lever arrangement so that by the pivotal movement of this easily operable lever, the sheets may be dispensed.

It is a feature of my invention that the means for operating the dispensing apparatus forms a part of the enclosure and when in its normal position entirely encloses the sheets within the container. By movement of a movable part of the enclosure, the paper sheets may be dispensed through a small slot provided for this purpose.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

t In the drawings forming a part of my specifica- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my memorandum desk pad, in readiness for operation.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the longitudinal center of the desk pad, the position of the section being indicated by the line 2-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a top plan View of the memorandum desk pad, showing the operating mechanism in hidden lines.

Figure 4 is a bottom view of the memorandum desk pad with the bottom or base plate and the paper sheets removed therefrom.

Figure 5 is a sectional view through the casing to one side of the operating mechanism therefor, the position of the section being indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 5, showing the operating parts in a different position.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view through the desk pad, the position of the section being indicated by the line l! of Figure 6.

The desk pad A comprises a pair of spaced side plates Ill and II which are connected by a curved top enclosure l2 and an upwardly and forwardly inclined front portion l3. A base [4 is secured to the casing in any suitable manner and is shown as having a forwardly and upwardly inclined end l5 which engages between the inclined front portion l3 and lips It thereupon. The rear end of the base or bottom 14 is secured by a bolt I! or by any other suitable means engageable in threaded openings l9, best illus trated in Figure 4.

A series of sheets 20 are arranged in superimposed relation upon the base M to be dispensed through a slot 2| between the inclined front portion l3 and the pivoted closure portion 22. This closure 22 is pivoted on aligned pivots 23 between the side walls In and I of the casing and extends from a point in spaced relation to the front portion I3 to a point adjacent the top closure I2. A downwardly extending flange 24 is positioned adjacent the end of the top closure I! so as to conceal the operating mechanism when the closure 22 is in depressed position, illustrated in full lines in Figure 6 of the drawings.

Depending from the top [2 of the casing, I provide a pair of substantially rectangular bosses 25 positioned on opposite sides of the center of the dispenser. Secured between these bosses 25, I

provide a bridge 26 which has a raised upper central portion 21 and offset ends 29 secured to the bosses by bolts 30 or other suitable means. The central portion 21 of the bridge 26 is in turn provided with an ofiset strip 3! best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, which strip is designed to engage the end of a flat spring 32. This spring 32 is anchored to the bridge 23 between the offset strip 3| and the oifset portion 2'! of the bridge 25, and the other end of the spring engages a cross member 33 connecting a pair of opposed levers 34. The levers 3 are pivotally secured at 35 to the bridge 26 between the central portion 21 and the ends 29 thereof and are pivotally connected at 35 to the sides 33 of a channel 46. The sides 39 of the channel at extend beyond the base 4! of the channel so as to simplify the connection between this channel and the levers 3 5.

Each of the levers $4 is notched at 42 to space the levers from the flange 24. The flange 24 is notched to accommodate these levers and a flat side on each of the levers engages the center section 2'! of the bridge 26 to limit the pivotal movement of the levers 34 in one direction. The levers 36 extend into engagement with the pivotal closure 22. Thus when the closure 22 is pivoted downwardly in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 2, 5, and 6, the levers 34 are pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction by engagement with this closure. Counter-clockwise movement of the levers 34 about their pivots 35 moves the levers from the position shown in full lines in Figures 2 and 5 of the drawings, to the position illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings. ment moves the channel to to the right as viewed in Figures 2, 5 and 6, permitting the roller 43 to pivot over the surface of the sheets of paper 26. This action does not move the sheets of paper as the roller d3 rotates as it is moved in this direc- 32 returns the levers 3d and the closure 22 to r their normal position as illustrated in full lines in Figures 2 and 5. While the roller 43 is travelling in a return direction, however, it is locked against rotation, and thus the roller drags over the surface of the paper sheets, drawing the pa- .7

per toward the slot 2|. The paper is guided toward the slot by the inclined front portion l3.

The paper may be moved into finger engaging position by action of the roller Q3 travelling on the surface of the sheets. Each time the closure is depressed, flexing the spring 32, the roller d3 moves to the right over the sheets without moving the same. Each time the closure 22 is released the uppermost sheet engaged by the roller is urged to the left toward the outlet slot 2!, thus dispensing the paper from the casing. If it is desired or necessary, a weight such as 50, may be employed to hold the roller 43 firmly against the top sheet of paper so that the proper action may take place.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described the principles of construction and operation of my memorandum desk pad and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that This pivotal movethis is only illustrative of a means of carrying out my invention and that obvious changes may be made Within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A paper dispensing device comprising a casing having a discharge opening, a pivoted closure in said opening, rotatable means within said casing, means for reciprocating said rotatable means toward and away from said discharge opening, and means for locking said rotatable means from rotation during reciprocation thereof toward said opening.

2. A dispenser for paper sheets comprising a casing having a discharge opening, a pivoted closure in said opening, a roller positioned within said casing, means for rotatably supporting said roller for movement toward and away from said discharge opening, lever means for operating said supporting means, means for urging said lever means in one direction, and means for locking said roller from rotation during movement thereof toward said discharge opening.

3. A paper sheet dispensing device comprising a casing having a discharge opening, a pivoted closure in said opening, a roller positioned within said casing, means for rotatably supporting said roller, means for reciprocating said supporting means, spring means urging said roller in one direction, and means for locking said roller from rotation during movement of said roller in said one direction.

4. A sheet dispensing device comprising a casing having a discharge opening therein and having an opening therein adjacent said discharge opening, a pivoted closure in said opening, lever means pivoted to said casing to oscillate between two extreme positions, said closure engaging said lever means to oscillate the same, spring means urging said lever means toward one extreme position, a roller positioned within said casing, roller supporting means securing said roller to said lever means for movement of said roller toward and away from said discharge opening upon oscillation of said lever means, and means for locking said roller from rotation on movement thereof toward said discharge opening.

5. A paper dispensing device comprising a cating, said casing having a discharge opening, a roller positioned within said casing, link means rotatably supporting said roller, lever means pivotally secured to said link means, means for securing said lever means to said casing f or oscillation between two extreme positions, spring means urging said lever means toward one extreme position, and means locking said roller from rotation upon movement thereof toward said discharge opening. 6. A memorandum desk pad comprising a casmg having a discharge opening therein, a pivoted closure in said opening, a roller positioned within said casing, lever means pivoted to said casing, said pivoted closure engaging said lever means, spring means for urging said lever means toward one extreme position, said lever means holding said pivoted closure in closed position with respect to said opening, roller supporting means securing said roller to said lever means for movement of said roller toward and away from said opening upon oscillation of said lever means, and means for locking said roller from rotation during reciprocation of said supporting means toward said discharge opening.

7. A paper dispensing device comprising a a closed position with respect to said casing, and 10 means for locking said roller from rotation during one direction of reciprocating movement thereof.

8. A paper dispensing device comprising a nonmetallic casing, a roller positioned within said casing, a discharge opening, a pivoted closure adjacent said discharge opening, lever means engageable with said pivoted closure and pivoted to said casing, means for rotatably supporting said roller, said supporting means pivotably connocted to said lever means, spring means for urging said lever means in one direction means for locking said roller from rotation upon movement thereof toward said discharge opening, and the movement of said roller being dependent upon the oscillation of said pivoted closure and said lever means.

MARTIN E. TROLLEN. 

